Come on Jay… I thought shivering. It was almost midnight, meaning that I had approximately six hours to go to this meeting, listen in on anything to do with me and get back to Happy Harbour to catch the jet to the laboratory I was supposedly created in. All without getting caught and/or killed.

Fun-packed night for all I'm afraid.

I glanced up as a black shadow crossed the beam of light from the overhead street lamp; my only light source on the deserted street. A powerful gust of wind blew past me as he landed on the uneven tarmac. His sandy hair wind swept, his cheeks flushed from the miles he flew. Adjusting the leather jacket on his shoulders he grinned at me.

"Metropolis eh?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Never pictured that the league would plant their runts so close to where the big man circulates."

"I'm currently living in the presence several Zeta Tubes. You don't think that I was transported here from anywhere in the states?" His grin faltered at this thought. "So, are we going to get going or not?"

"Sure, you ready to fly?" He was always quick to compose himself and held out his arms to me with a seductive smile. I glared at him and stepped forward into the embrace turning my back on him as his strong arms wrapped around my waist. The forced air whipped the dried leaves and dust around us as his wings pushed downwards, hauling us a few feet in the air before we rose a couple hundred in a matter of seconds. I held my breath as I always did on these take-offs. The cold air biting against my face as we left the concrete forest of Metropolis in our wake. I felt more than heard his chuckle through my back.

"Still a nervous Flyer Effie?" He said, his breath brushing my ear. "I thought by now our little outings wouldn't scare you."

"Just shut up and focus on not dropping me ok?" I hissed back at him, breaking eye contact with the shrinking city. Looking down would do nothing for the acrobatics of my stomach at that moment.

The rest of the trip was silent thankfully, Jay knew that I wouldn't hold a conversation leading into a mission, I had to stay focused. I probably should have paid more attention to what direction we were heading in case I ever wanted to find the triads secret meetings again but to be honest I was much more preoccupied with my air-sickness. Plus, the Triad were hardly going to use the same place twice.

It was about two and a half hours when we began to make our decent. I took a few deep breaths to allow my floating stomach to settle. I was grateful to say the least when my boots finally touched down on solid ground. With a sigh I glanced around.

We were far from any of the major cities, that much I could tell. There weren't many street lights and from what I could see from them we were out in the barren regions of route forty-six. Nothing but sand and weathered rock for miles. The sun had gone down about an our ago and the only other light source was a crescent moon shining in the south-west. I stepped out of Jackdaw's arms and glanced behind us. From the outside it appeared to be about twenty blocks of deserted storage units. But from years of these gigs you soon learn that what appears to be is never the same as the reality.

"Come on," Jackdaw muttered, touching my elbow. I nodded and followed him around the side of the building where a smaller iron door sat. There was a short queue leading through it. We joined the line and waited as it moved inside. Once stepping through the threshold a stocky bald man thrust a small black bundle into my arms. Not wanting to draw attention to myself I walked well out of earshot before turning a questioning glance at Jay.

"Uniforms," he answered my silent question. "Security needs to look all the same."

"Oh." I guess it did make sense. "So, what was with the lack of shown? I mean, anyone could just stroll in and handed the gear."

"Well, technically this meeting doesn't even exist, no one outside the Warlord's circles are supposed to know it's going on. And as for any human stragglers – the bald guy can smell a mutant from a mile off. Literally. Not their powers or anything - " he added when my expression turned to panic. "Just whether or not their one of us or human." I nodded again and glanced around to see a few of the others stripping to get changed into their new attire. "Come on."

He gripped my elbow again and led me around the corner of the main corridor. Fluidly he slipped off his jeans and pulled on the new ones that were just handed to him, black jeans and were looser than skinny jeans yet tight enough that you could see a great view from behind –

I looked away hurriedly.

"My, my," Jackdaw chuckled darkly. "You're blushing Miss Fairburn."

"Shut up," I muttered and began to unfold my own clothing bundle. It was only in that moment that I realised how much smaller it was to his. "You've got to be kidding me!"

I stared, open mouthed at the tiny pieces of fabric in my hands. Black leather hot pants without a glimpse of tights to wear with them and a slim fitted low-necked tank top. Emphasis on the 'low-necked'. Jackdaw snorted, he was obviously enjoying my reactions to everything tonight.

"Not surprising," he said with a shrug that made me want to punch him. "You know the Warlord's tastes, I mean not even Natalia is that interested in looking at her male body-guards. Hurry up and get changed."

"Fine," I spoke through my teeth. Hating the bastards in charge of the crime underworld even more if possible. "Just… turn around."

"Oh please, it's not like I haven't seen it all before – "

"Turn around Jay!"

He sighed. "Alright, calm down."

I shrugged into the black attire and by shrugged I mean 'squeezed into'. The tops were obviously not made for girls with cup size double Ds but as I shifted uncomfortably with my cleavage clearly on show I thought that was maybe the precise point of them. Jackdaw seemed to appreciate the view however by the look of his expression. As he led the way down the maze of hallways he cleared his throat audibly.

"So," I groaned internally, when he started a conversation like this it was never mission themed. "Maybe after we get the information here we could grab a drink in one of those deserted bars you like so much, you know for old time sake?"

'Old time sake' usually led to his place after the bar and then to me staying the night. I forced down the blush at the memories and shook my head.

"Not this time Jay." I said avoiding looking at him.

"Why not? You always need to unwind after a mission," he slowed his pace and I felt his fingertips blush my collarbone. "And I was always great at doing that."

I shrugged off his touch, making him frown. "I can't tonight Jay, just drop it."

The frown then turned to a scowl. "I see, you spend a few weeks on the other side of the fence and suddenly you're too good for me?"

I sighed, wishing I was anywhere else, having any other conversation with any other person. "It's not that, you know I'm not like that." How was I going to get around this without telling him about my other mission?

"Then what is it then? The only other explanation is that you've found someone else to fool around with – " he broke off. I really didn't mean to, I thought I had the blushing thing under control but before I could stop myself my thoughts flitted to Nightwing and the elevator and heat rose to my face. "Oh no. Please don't tell me."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I muttered and kept walking forward even though I wasn't exactly sure where I was heading. Not that it mattered though as he grabbed my arm and spun me around.

"No wonder he was being a bigger dick than usual at my place…" his words were laced with anger. "I'd never seen him be that vocal before…"

"Please, Jay, just leave it alone!"

"Don't 'please Jay' me. What are you thinking? Nightwing? Are you serious, Batman's lapdog?" The questions were thrown at me, making me flinch.

"What I do when I'm not around you is none of your business!" I hissed back at him, pulling my arm roughly from his grasp.

"To hell it isn't! You don't even know him!"

"I know him as much as I knew you when we started… whatever you want to call it!"

"Oh yeah? What's his name, Fraya?"

I pressed my lips together, hoping that the angry look I was giving him would shut him up.

"Oh, of course you can't tell me but we both know that you have about as much of an inkling into Nightwing's secret identity than I have. That guy trusts no one. How are you supposed to have anything with him if he doesn't trust you?"

We glowered at each other for what felt like eternity but one a few minutes. Finally, I broke the gaze by looking to the floor. I couldn't think about this now, I was on a mission.

"This conversation is getting us nowhere," I said in such a dark tone that I knew he wouldn't argue. "We have a mission to complete so shut up and let's get on with it."

With a heated sigh I heard a barely audible 'fine' before he turned and walked at such a brisk pace that I had to jog to keep up. We took a hard left and after walking through three doorways I began to hear it, a faint mummer of conversation, many, many conversations. I could see the double doors ahead of the other security bodies. I counted thirty-six not including myself or Jay. I even recognised one or two of the guys from past jobs, one of them glanced back – almost like he felt like he was being watched. I looked down hurriedly wondering if this mission was a good idea after all.

So softly, that I barely felt it at first, something was pressed into my hand, I peered down to see a baseball cap, not much, but enough to hide my hair and eyes – my most memorable features.

"Thank-you," I breathed, to Jackdaw in front of me, leaning close so he could hear me. He stiffened but didn't answer. I sighed internally, wondering if I was ever going to get another favour out of him after this.

I glanced at my watch, it was half-past three already. I had two and a half hours at least to get this information, get out and get home. All without getting shot and killed. Wait, did I just call Happy Harbour home?

I didn't have any more time to think about that however as the queue began marching forward. I threw the hat on, shoving as much of my thick hair up into it as possible. I tilted my head forward at such an angle that a shadow fell over my face. Feeling as comfortable as I could possibly get I trudged on through the main entrance of the Warlord Triad Meeting. Meeting the buzzing noise head on.

Here we go…